17 years young, Yismaw Dillu, finishes 3rd in Ethiopian 10,000 trial, 27:08.85. Winner, Aregawi 26:50.66, 2nd Barega 26:51.87

I'm not even sure that that's the best time of all time for a 17 year old in the 10,000 meters because there may have been other 10,000 meter runs as fast or faster than that by phenomenal Ethiopian kids.

His birthday is 1/1? That's a bit suspicious. Either way 27:08 is a great time even if he's not that young.

Top all-time under 18, 10,000

1. Jeilan Ethiopia 27:02.81 (17) Brussels 2006

2. Dillu Ethiopia 27:08.85 (17) Nerja 2023

3. Kipchumba Kenya 27:25.55 (17) Brussels 2001

4. Kiplimo Uganda 27:26.68 (16!!!) Bydgoszcz 2016

5. Biyazen Ethiopia 27:32.51 (17) in Japan 2017 (High school import)

Top non African

24. Murayama Japan 28:23.18 (17) Yokohama 2010

Typo corrections:

8. Wolde 27:48.66

9. Debele 27:55.30

Quite close! Jacob Kiplimo at 18 dropped a 26:41 10km Road in Madrid (Didn't count for world record for road measurements purposes).

But, according to Google, the fastest u-18 was Ibrahim Jeilan who ran 27:02.81 in 2006. He won gold in 2011 Daegu World Champions against Mo Farah and silver in 2013 Moscow.

I think the Madrid course is predominantly downhill if it is located in the locality of Vallecana.

I've read here several times that when Kenyans or Ethiopians don't know their birth date, they just put 1/1.

But will not qualify for world championships because you should have 18 years to run 10.000

What’s with the slow times behind the top 2? I would expect more depth from Ethiopia in a 10,000.

There might be some age cheat in East Africa but the ones who do are actually not good or not talented enough! Why would you lie about age when you are good?
Old people lie to get scholarships in US or to participate in Junior championships but again those people disappear real quickly or will not do amazing stuff going forward as they are almost plateaued already!
I remember people accusing Jacob Kiplimo to be an age cheat!
In Poland he got bronze in world junior championships 10000m at 15yrs in 2016 and one month later he went to Rio Olympics!
It’s 7years now in and y’all have seen his on going progression! Not a single person apologized to him, they would be saying it’s not fair for the other Jacob to race against a 30yrs old…really?!
How about what people said about Augustine Choge, Eliud Kipchoge, K Bekele, even the great Haile! You guys are quick to judge!
It’s normal for a young 17-18yrs old to run fast just watch for the progression afterwards and you will get my point!

Because you can start your career by setting world junior records when you're not a junior. Looks good on the resume, I imagine. Ghost1, for example, is writing about this "17" year old with multiple exclamation points, despite the fact that he lost by 20 seconds. No similar exclamation points for anyone else in the race.

Jan 1 is the default birthday, if WA not yet provided with one.

Race presumably at significant altitude.

Shoes or wave-light? Or the usual explanation.

I've been saying this for years. The haters can't have it both ways. They can't be age cheats then still be in the sport 10-15 years later lol

The race was held in Nerja, Spain, which is at sea level.

I agree; never trust an age coming out of Africa. Nothing is accurate. They either knowingly cheat to compete at World Junior Championships or - if they don't know their own birthdays - they'll just make up something. As for the World Jr. Championships, the meet should either be cancelled or the African nations should be banned. One of the two. There's no integrity in the current situation.

I love the idea of World Juniors, but African countries should be barred from competing, along with poaching nations like Bahrain and Qatar.

If he was older and could run 27 he would likely have a trail of performances to show it.